Negative frame



June 6, 1933. G. E. SMITH ET AL NEGATIVE FRAME Filed Aug. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l BUQWWS 0,62% mar L jl o op/a 1 24/2 M M @WM 9w June 6, 1933. G SMITH ET AL 1,912,547

NEGATIVE FRAME Filed Aug. 3, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i, -a 'fi a 5x277757 5 Glam, Z7. SWLLUL fifiexarmfiar 777C0 1) Patented June 6, 1933 llNlTED STATES tenth PATENT Fries GLEN E. SMITH, F EVANSTON, AND ALEXANDER T. KOPIPE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS NEGATIVE FRAME Application filed August 3, 1928.

T his invention relates to negative frames and its purpose is to provide an improved negative frame or holder embodying means whereby negatives may be located in predetermined position therein preliminary to placing the negative frame with its negative in a photo-composing machine, such, for eX- ample, as that disclosed in Reissue Letters Patent of the United States of Alexander T. Koppe No. 16,567, dated March 8, 1927. The principal object of the invention is to provide a negative frame or holder having embodied therein means for registering a negative in predetermined position in the frame, without the use of any auxiliary registering device or apparatus.

In the photocomposing machine disclosed in the above mentioned Letters Patent, the negative frame is located in the photo-composing machine in a definite position determined by dowel pins on the machine engaging holes in the negative frame, and this negative frame is adjustable with a supporting vacuum frame in two directions at right angles to each other so that the negative may be located in various positions opposite the surface of the sensitized plate on which the image carried by the negative is to be photographically reproduced. The negatives employed in photo-composing machines are commonly provided with register marks which are located thereon in predetermined positions usually by photographic means and the location of these marks on a negative determine what may be called the optical center of the plate. These register marks carried by a negative plate are made use of in locating the negative plate in the negative frame or holder and it is important that the several. negatives of a series, which are employed in reproducing on sensitized plates the several. images or part-images corresponding to the several colors of a multicolor job. be located in identical positions in similar negative frames so that the several colors will register properly with each other in the completed work. In registering a negative plate, its optical center determined by its register marks, is preferably located so that it will coincide with the mechanical maintained as long'as the negative is in the Serial No. 297,335.

center of the negative frame or holder and when the negative frame with its registered plate is placed in the photo-composing machine the position occupied by the negative plate is determined by scale readings indieating the longitudinal and transverseadjustments of the negative frame.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide means whereby the function of positioning the negative in a predetermined position in a negative frame is accomplished by reference to registering means which are carried by the negative frame itself and it is proposed to provide each negative frame, which may be employed with a photo-composing machine, with such regis-. tering means. A further object ofthe invention is to provide a negative frame having relatively fixed registering means adapted to h be registered with register marks or lines on a negative when the negative plate is placed within the frame. Still another important object of the invention is to provide a negative frame or holder having projecting parts adapted to lap over the surface of a negative located within the opening of the frame, these projecting parts being provided with register marks with which corresponding register marks carried by the negative plate may be caused to coincide. after which the negative plate is secured in that registered position within the frame or holder. A further object of the invention is to provide a negative frame or holder having relatively stationary register members with which register marks on the negative plate may be registered by shifting the position of the negative plate within the negative frame. Another object of the invention is to provide a negative frame having registering means carried thereby to project beneath the face of the negative plate without interfering with the necessary close contact of the negative and the press plate when a photographic exposure is subsequently made in a photo-composing machine. An important feature of the present invention is that after a negative has been registered in the frame, the indication of the registered condition s frame so that inspections may be made from time to time to determine whether the negative plate has accidentally been moved out of registered position. A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for permitting the replacement of the parts hear-- ing register marks and to permit the convenient location thereon of register lines or marks in the desired positions. Other objects relate to various features of Construction and arrangement which will appear more clearly hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from tl1e;.following specification taken with the accompanying d 'awings in which one embodiment is illustrated. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of the improved negative frame of the present invention with a negative mounted therein;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the negative shown in Fig. 1 with its face or film side turned upward;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. at is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 4- 1; of Fig. 1 with the intermediate portion thereof broken away;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the negative frame showing one of the register members provided with a register mark;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows a plan view of one of the register members before being applied to the frame;

Fig. 8 is a'part-ial plan view of one side of the negative frame showing the application thereto of a guide for locating a register mark on the register member; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on t 99 of Fig. 8.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the invention comprises a rectangular metal frame 10 having a rectangular opening 11 therein to receive a negative plate 12 of glass or the like. The frame 10 is provided on opposite sides, preferably in diagonal positions, with dowel holes 13 to be engaged by dowel pins carried by the photocomposing machine so that the frame 10, and other identical frames, may be located in predetermined position in the photo-composing machine. The negative 12 is provided on its face side. which is the lower surface illustrated in Fig. 1. wit-h the photographic image 14. to be reproduced on the press plate in the photo-composing machine, and al o with register marks or lines 15 which are located thereon in predetermined position by photographic or other means. Two of the marks 15 extend longitudinally of the negative in alignment with each other and are located substantially midway between the sides of the negative, while the third register he line mark 15 extends transversely of the negative and substantially midway between the ends thereof. During the operation of locating the negative plate 12 in proper position in the frame 10. the frame and the negative rest in any desired location on the flat surface of a table or other support 16. The negative plate 12 is secured in the frame 10 by means of clamping members 17 which are carried by the sides of the frame and located opposite each other in pairs to engage opposite sides of the negative. Each clamping member 17 has a sheet of leather or the like 18 secured to its contacting face and the lower portion of this contacting face, on those clamps which are located at the sides of the negative, is beveled as shown at 18 to fit the corresponding bevel 12 which is formed around the lower edge of the negative. The-e beveled surfaces insure the holding of the negative plate securely in place when the clamping members 17 are adjusted to clamping position. This adjustment of the clamping members is effected by screwthreaded adjusting members 19 having downturncd portions 19 which engage the clamping members 17. The horizontal portion of each adjusting member is mounted in a recc'-s 20 formed in the outwardly directed flange 10 of the negative frame which is spaced upwardly from the lower contacting surface 10 of the frame which rests on the support 16. An. adjusting nut 21, having a knurled external surface for engagement by the fingers of the operator, is mounted on the- :ed portion of each adjusting screw 19 located in a slot 22 formed in the negative rame. The adjusting nut thus held against longitudinal movement and upon rotation thereof the connected clamping member 17 is moved inwardly or outwardly.

The negat ve 12 located in predetermined position in the negative frame 10 by adjusting the negative until its register marks 15 coincide with register marks 25 which are carried by the register members 2b secured to the side and end walls of the frame 10. The reg ster nicn'ibers 26 extend inwardly from the frame 10 and preferably underlie the face of the negative 12 with their under surfaces flush with the lower face of the frame 10. nd the register marks 25 are located thereon so tl at the lines carried by the members 26 at opposite ends of the frame are in alignment with each other. and midway between and parallel to the sides of the frame while the register line 25 carried by a member 26 at the side of the frame extends transversely of the frame midway between its ends. By adjusting the negative until its lines 15 coincide with the lines 25, the negative plate 12 may be located in registered position in the negative frame or holder and the optical center'of the negative may be made to coincide with the mechanical center of the negative frame. The register members 26 are of stiff non-elastic material, such as metal or celluloid, and they should preferably be relatively thin so that the projection of these members beneath the negative at points adjacent its edge will not interfere with the close contact of the remaining portions of the negative and the press plate when an exposure is made in the photo-composing machine. Although three of the members 26 are suflicient to effect the predetermined registration of negative plates each bearing threereg ster marks, a fourth member 26 is preferably provided as shown at 26 so that the negative plate will be evenly supported in horizontal position when placed within the frame. If the register members 26 be constructed of celluloid, for example, they may be made of a thickness as small as three-thousandths to five-thousandths of an inch and yet be of sufficient stiffness and durability to withstand the ordinary usage. By using a transparent material, such as celluloid, there is a further advantage in that the negative and negative frame may be placed on a table 16 of glass or the like having a light located beneath it so that the light will shine up through the register members and the negative to facilitate the adjustment of the negative to registered position. The register lines 25 are preferably scratched or otherwise marked on the upper sides of the register members 26 so that they will lie closely adjacent the corresponding register lines 15 on the face of the negative plate 12. The members 26 extend inwardly from the walls of the frame 10 to a suflicient extent to permit the registry with their marks of the marks on the negative plates being employed therewith.

To permit the ready repliutement of the fixed register members 26, in case of injury thereto. for example, they are preferably made detachable and for this purpose each register member has a pair of laterally extending arms 26' which are provided with holes 27 and the arms 26 are adapted to engage depressions 28 formed in the under side of the negative frame with their outer sides engaged by the clamping members 29. These members 29 are held in place by screws 30 which engage the holes 27 and enter threaded apertures 31 formed in the negative frame, as shown in 6. WVhen the screws 30 are adjusted to clamping position, the interme diate portion of the register member 26 is held taut and the projecting portion of the register member on which the line 25 is provided is caused to project inwardly in a plane parallel to the face of the negative. In theaccompanying drawings the register members 26 are. for clearness, shown of greater relative thickness than would preferably be employed in practice. After a transparent sheet forming a register member 26 has been secured in place, the register line 25 is scratched or otherwise formed thereon and, to permit the ready location of these lines 25 in the proper positions midway between the parallel walls of the frame, each wall of the frame 10 is provided adjacent the register member carried thereby with a stationary pin 33' adapted to be engaged by the guide member 34 having the form shown particularly in Figs. 8 and 9. This guide member has a face 34* which, when it is in contact with one side of a pin 33, is located in a plane midway between the parallel side walls or end walls of the frame 10 and a sharp instrumentmay then be moved along that portion of this face 3% which is located on the depending head 84 in contact with the upper surface of the member 26 to form a register line on the upper surface of this register member. The guide member 34 is provided with an arm 34 opposite the'head 3 t and this arm is engaged by a clamping screw so that the guide member may he clamped on the wall. of the negative frame adjacentthe pin 33 during the operation of employing a sharp instrument or other member for marking the register line on the adjacent member 26.

By means of this invent on, a negative plate may be readily located in a negative frame or holder on a convenient table or the like and then quickly adjusted, either by engaging the negative plate directly with the fingers or by manipulating the clamps 17 until its register marks coincide with those car ried by the holder, and other negatives of the same series, or of other series, may be similarly registered in the same or similar holders. Although the registration might be effected by this invention while the negative f'ame or holder is located in the photo-composing machine. it is ordinarily preferable to remove the holder from the machine and lay it on a table or the like before registering a negative therein.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

lVe claim:

1. The combination with a holder for a negative plate, of means for adjustably securing a negative plate on said holder, and registering means carried by said holder to project beneath the face of said negative plate to register with a part of said negative plate.

2. The combination with a negative frame adapted to hold a negative plate having aregister mark, of registering means mounted in fixed position on said frame, and means for adjustably securing said negative plate in said frame in superimposed relation to said registering means .with its register mark in register with a part of said registering means.

3. The combination with a negative frame having an-opening therein to receive a negative plate, of means for adj ustably securing said negative plate on said frame in register with said opening, and registering means carried by said frame and projecting into said opening to occupy a position adjacent a surface of said negative plate.

4. The combination with a negative frame having an opening therein to receive a negative plate, of means for adjustably securing said negative plate on said frame in register with said opening, and thin-registering means carried by said frame and projecting into said opening to occupy a position adjacent and beneath the face of said negative plate.

5. The combination with a negative frame having an opening therein to receive a negative plate, of means for adjustably securing said negative plate on said frame in register with said opening, and a transparent register member fixed on said frame and located adjacent a surface of said plate when said plate is mounted in said frame.

6. The combintion' with a negative frame adapted to receive anegative plate, of means for adjustably securing said negative plate in said frame, and a plurality of register members carried by said frame and having parts lying adjacent the surface of said plate bearing register marks.

7. The combination with a negative frame. adapted to hold ,a negative plate bearing aligning register marks. of means for adjust ably securing said negative plate in sai frame, and a pair of register members ca rr by said frame and bearing aligning register marks to which said marks on said negative plate are adapted to be registered.

8. The combination with a negative frame having an opening therein adapted to receive a negative plate having angularly disposed register lines, of register members fixed on said frame and having angularly disposed register lines located adjacent said negative plate, and means for adj ustably securing said negative plate in said frame with its register lines in register with said lines of said register members. v p

9. The conibinatiou with a negative frame having an opening therein adapted to receive a negative plate having angularly disposed register lines, of thin. register members fixed on said frame and projectin beneath the face of said negative, said register members having register lines one of which is disposed angnlarly to other lines of said members. and means for adjustably se uring said negative plate in said frame with its register lines in register with saidregister lines of said register members.

10. The'combination with a negative frame having an opening therein to receivea negative plate bearing a pair of aligning register marks and another register mark extending transversely thereto, of a plurality of register members fixed on said frame and projecting into said opening, said register members bearing two register marks in alignment with each other and a third register mark extending trai'isi'erscly thereto, and means for adjustably securing said negative plate in said frame to cause its register marks to register with said marks carried by said register members.

11. The combination with a rectangular parallel-sided negative frame adapted to be mounted in a photo-composing machine, of a register member mounted in fixed location on said frame and bearing a register mark located midway between parallel sides of said frame, said frame being adapted to receive a negative plate bearing a register mark located substantially midway between its sides, and means for adjusting said negative plate in said frame to cause its register mark to coincide wi h the register mark carried by said register member. 7

12. The combination with a negative frame having an opening adapted to receive a negative plate, of a register member, means for detachably securing said register member to said frame with a portion thereof projecting into said opening, and means for adjusting said negative plate with respect to said register member within said frame.

' 13. The combination with a negative frame having an opening adapted to receive a negative plate. of a register member secured to said frame and projecting into said opening. said re ister member being adapted to receive a i'egi..icr line marked thereon, and means carried by said frame for indicating a predetermined position to be occupied by said line.

1st. The combination with a negative frame having an opening adapted to receive a negative plate, of a register member secured to said frame and projecting into said opening, said register member being adapted to receive register line marked thereon, an indicating member detachably mounted on said frame and projecting into said opening in proxiu'iity to said register member for guiding an instrument employed in n'iarking said register member, and means carried by said frame for locating said indicating member in a predetermined position.

in witness whereof, we have subscribed our names.

GLEN E. SMITH. AL *XANDER T. KOPPE.

iii-J llio CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,912,547. June 6, 1933.

GLEN E. SMITH, ET AL.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the aceve numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 24, claim 6, fer "combintion" read "combination"; and line 30, strike out the words "bean ing register marks" and insert the same to follow the word "parts" in line 29"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of August, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore. (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

